Spending time in San Francisco

[Bamafan3723]

Next week I'll be in San Francisco for two days. So far the only things I've planned to do is go to a Giants game and go see the Golden Gate Bridge. What other things should I be sure to check out while I'm there? Also, any places I should try to avoid? I've yet to book a hotel. I didn't want to pick a bad part of town. Any suggestions? Thanks guys.

[dickey1331]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Fisherman's Wharf is a lot of fun. Parking anywhere is a pain though.

[bkrich83]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Have a drink in the bar at the top of the Marriott, it's got the best view in the city.

Go to Golden Gate Park. There's some great exhibits at the museum there.

For hotels I usually stay at one of the Mariott downtown or the Hyatt Regency in the embarcadaro. If you stay at the Hyatt it's a short walk to Pac Bell park for your baseball game.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Avoid the Tenderloin District. That place is extremely ghetto. If you're going to visit Candlestick Park, also beware that the area around the stadium is terrible as well. Bayview/Hunter's Point. Not a good place. Know where you're going, lol.

SF is weird. You can be in a really nice area on one block, and have it be complete trash the next block. Where you stay depends on how much money you're willing to spend on a hotel. Union Square is really nice but the prices are insane.

Fisherman's Wharf is a great place to go, especially if you like seafood. Nice place, touristy, etc. There are Cable Cars that go around, you can definitely go on those. Pretty fun. Lombard Street is fun to drive down. It's a curvy, tight road.

There is the Bay Bridge that takes you to the East Bay. I prefer the Bay Bridge over the Golden Gate myself, strictly aesthetically. If you take the Golden Gate Bridge, you go over to Sausalito, which is gorgeous. Some small restaurants and stuff there.

There are tours of Alcatraz if you're interested. I'm not really interested so I've never done it.

There is the Ghirardelli Square, which is, obviously, associated with the chocolate. There are some stores and shops there.

If you want amazing food, go to Chinatown or North Beach aka their Little Italy. Can't even begin to describe how good the food is there.

Figure out the BART system. It's dirty as hell but it's probably the quickest way to get places. If you're going to go to a Giants game, it's best to stay at a hotel by the Embarcadero. If I remember correctly, the stadium is located on King St.

Take a jacket. It's good for people like me who love cool, foggy, misty weather but a lot of people are bothered by it. It gets cool even in summertime. Highs probably in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 50s.

[dickey1331]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Somehow I forgot Alcatraz. I got to do a behind the sceens look of Alcatraz, Im not sure if its available to the public, that was really cool. Got to see things that other people dont. Even got put into one of the cells and they closed the doors. We also got to go to the top of the lighthouse that is on the island.

[Bamafan3723]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Yeah I have a rental car and have heard it is a pain to drive in SF.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Driving in SF is....brutal.

Also, be prepared to pay a ton of money wherever you go for parking.

On the bright side, once you drive in San Francisco, you'll be able to drive anywhere else you go for the rest of your life.

[UK0wnag3]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

I was just there two days ago.

I stayed in Fisherman's Wharf - nice place, pretty busy.

I know everyone else has mentioned the driving, but it can't be stressed enough, it's awful.

You can do a hop on hop off bus tour that does a lot of the main points in SF, though im pretty sure the tour guide made half his stories up.

[bkrich83]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

There's no need to drive.

Get to your hotel. Park the car and leave it until you leave town. You can pretty much, walk, cab, or street car your way to any destination in the city.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Regarding driving, what bk said... It's brutal getting in and out, but once you're there, the public transportation is top notch. San Fran is my favorite city I've visited. You'll love AT&T park and the area around it. I had a great experience just walking around there and visiting the bars. Tons of friendly people.

I think everyone has hit on the places you should visit. Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Fisherman's Wharf is something I'd definitely recommend for one of your meals.

[ubernoob]

Castro district is the alternative lifestyle district fyi.

When the fiance and I went we stayed at a super bed and breakfast in the mission district (which the mission was cool to see of you like history)

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Driving in SF is....brutal.

Also, be prepared to pay a ton of money wherever you go for parking.

On the bright side, once you drive in San Francisco, you'll be able to drive anywhere else you go for the rest of your life.

I'll see your SF driving and raise you Miami driving. Wow...

I've driven both, and also Sacramento, pretty much the whole Bay Area, Seattle for years, Miami, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, and south Florida.

Miami takes the cake for bad drivers and suicidally stupid bicyclists and pedestrians, especially South Beach.

SF is annoying just by volume trying to get in and out of town, and not being able to make a left turn in town LOL.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

I raise you all those cities and give you Boston. Worse place to drive ever, their streets are made funny and are way too narrow for cars.

Cities being too crowded is one thing, but cities where the streets were designed for horses and cows but not cars is some thing else.

[roadman]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

Nothing beats Chicago rush hour.

Winter and construction are two seasons in Chicago.

Loved SF area to visit. That's where my wife and I spent our honeymoon. We visited in September and we were spending time in the wine country and Big Sur, too. I called our local weather station and asked for expectation. He said an hour north to the wine country the temperature would be in the 90's. Wow.

We stayed at a British B & B downtown off Chinatown and at the Wharf's Marriot at the end of the trip. Walked to Chinatown the next day and walked around and used cable cars. Picked up the rental, went down the curvy road, visited Haight/Asbury for history sake, Golden Gate Park and Sausilito. Once you crossed the GG Bridge, it became sunny in Sausilito with some nice neat shops.

Had a great time in the wine country of Sonoma and Napa. Big Sur was fun too.

I remember we had to make a reservation at Fog City Diner in San Fran a month in advance. The restaurant was recommended.

[Bamafan3723]

Re: Spending time in San Francisco

So I wound up having to get a hotel just outside the city. So I'll be driving into the city for the Giants game Friday night. Any suggestions on where to park for the game? I don't mind parking and walking to the stadium, I would just like to find a place that is somewhat simple to get to.